London Metropolitan University

University of Colombo

ICAEW

Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka

Chief Financial  Officer at General Optical Council

General Optical Council

Chief Financial Officer

General Optical Council is the regulator for the optical professions in the UK. The purpose of the Council is to protect the public by promoting high standards of education, performance and conduct amongst opticians.

Responsibilities: Day-to-day management of the Council’s accounting function, producing timely and accurate management accounts, quarterly reporting to SMT and the Council, producing SORP (FRS102) compliant annual reports, responsible for annual budget, quarterly forecasts, cash-flow management and investments, capital asset register, corporate risk register and risk management, reporting of  departmental and corporate risks to Audit and Risk Committee, ensure the accounting policies comply with relevant accounting standards,  improve finance and procurement policies and processes, manage three finance officers, provide finance expertise to other departmental work such as consultation papers and projects, reporting to SMT meetings and the Board. 
Achievements
•	Produced the Council’s first SORP compliance annual accounts. 
•	Established zero based budgeting with active involvement from budget holders.
•	Aligned Business plan with annual budget. 
•	Improved reporting structure.
•	Finance management of a sale of property, relocation, investment of funds and leasing of offices.
•	Developed Terms and Conditions for organisation contracts, improved purchase order process.

Head of Finance

WomanCare Global is hybrid organisation with turnover over $12 million and consists of a UK charity, a global trading subsidiary which is a community interest company and a US trading subsidiary.
(From March 2012- present)
RESPONSIBILITIES:
•	Responsible for financial accounting, management and reporting functions of the group.
•	Year-end accounting, audit, annual report. Filing of accounts in UK and US.
•	Compliance with SORP, Charity Commission, CIC (community interest company) regulations, UK GAAP, governance and policies
•	Budgeting and monitoring.
•	Management accounts reporting, project reporting
•	Financial aspects of donor applications and reporting
•	Group insurance in charity, and commercial levels.
•	Development and monitoring of cost structures, 
•	Development of internal controls in financial management
•	Banking, developing suitable financial structures, negotiating for better financial deals with banks with changes in global markets. Relationship management. 
•	Taxation (UK and US)
•	Identifying and implementing changes needed in internal controls, financial reporting, regulations and insurance matters in a changing global market as well as being in a changing organization.
•	Managing 3-1 people and reporting to COO.

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS: 
Developed a bottom-up budgeting for trading activities in order to capture field level plans accurately. Changed the accounting from US to UK SORP and GAAP compliance and managed the first UK audit for the group with positive end results. Challenged a contract which demanded $3m from charity and made it not payable. Developed a monthly management accounts reporting pack.

WomanCare Global

Finance Director

International membership organisation, charity limited by guarantee. Turnover in excess of £5m. Two subsidiaries, one of which a trading company. Two smaller charities- Benevolent Fund and Educational Trust. Work involved is strategic as well as normal financial duties. I was responsible for all finance duties reports and reporting under GAAP & SORP.  
Reporting to CEO, I managed the monthly, quarterly, annual management reporting, statutory accounts and annual reports including policy development. I was responsible for budgeting and forecasting of the institution, its branches and the foreign divisions. I also oversaw the VAT, tax and the payroll. I liaised       with the bankers, auditors and other external stake holders, has experience in reporting to Charity Commission and government and liaising with contractors and donors. I was involved in strategic management and treasury management, cash flow forecasting, departmental restructuring, change management and  system implementation. I was also responsible for the budgets of its' 11 international divisions. 
RESPONSIBILITIES:
•	Managing a three people team finance department, reporting to CEO. 
•	Responsible for monthly management accounts, year-end accounts, statutory accounts
•	Annual Report, compliance with governance and policies.
•	Budgeting and re-forecasting
•	Long term strategic planning 
•	Compliance with SORP, Charity Commission and OSCR. 
•	Fund management, cash-flow forecast; short, medium and long-term.
•	Responsible for finance of 2 subsidiaries and 2 smaller charities.   
•	Reporting to executive committee (trustees), Resource Panel (management arm of trustees)
•	Liaising with bankers, auditors etc
•	Liaising with and supporting non UK branches
•	Performance management and related training. 
•	Payroll 
•	Project management
•	Selecting and  implementing new accounting software

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS: 
Introduced improved management reporting and charge free corporate credit cards.

Institution of Structural Engineers

I  was responsible for annual and statutory accounts in accordance with SORP, preparation of Annual Report, monthly management accounts, annual and long-term strategic budgets, forecasts, cashflow, investments, subsidiary company accounts, consolidation, VAT, TAX, charity commission reporting, payroll, liaising with auditors &amp; bankers, reporting to trustees &amp; strategic, audit committees, etc. Also I was involved in providing strategic directions to the trading subsidiary, analysing the commercial aspects and contracts.

The Cricket Foundation

Finance & Admin. Manager

•	Designing and preparation of  a five year historical financial report for National Audit.
•	Member of the team, computing and forecasting the annual company budget.  Worked with the Finance Director in planning the central budget and liaised with directors, project managers and other budget holders. Helped determining the methods of apportioning the departmental costs..
•	Monitoring accounting systems for three companies to ensure accuracy of information. 
•	Writing up of the Finance Procedure Manual and related process mapping. 
•	Preparation of Process Mapping and a process manual for Strategic Planning. Identified the areas of weaknesses. 
•	Improved the existing fixed assets register and identified the areas of weaknesses. Liaised  with outside company who provided the IT infrastructure in  reporting on IT related fixed assets movements and additions.
•	 Designing of Cost model 2007/08. Redesigned the companies cost model to adapt to provide information in accordance to the new areas due to company changing reporting structure of the programs. 
•	Changing the accruals policy.  Discussed with the project managers on the usage of the accruals and possibilities of writing off the unwanted funds.

The Carbon Trust

Special Projects Accountant

•	Performing external audits and  systems audits. 
•	Certifications of grants by analyzing the effective usage for the relevant area.  
Audits – NHSLA, NHS and Enfield Council

Audit Commission

External Auditor

•	Taking part in the Internal Audit Team of Westminster City Council, examining and reporting various aspects of activities in the Local Government Authority such as Assessment and Advice Systems Audit in Housing Needs Department, Payments in Children and Families Department, Library Audits, Disposal of Motor Vehicles (Determining suitable method for the Council), Property Sales Department, Open Housing Management System etc.,. 
•	Discussing and recommending improvements to the existing methods of management and accounting.
•	 Independent handling of audits and liaising with the senior management of client. Management of entire projects.

Bentley Jennison

Internal Auditor

RESPONSIBILITIES:
•	Management of a Professional Audit Firm approved by the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Sri Lanka, which provides the following services of Financial (Statutory) &amp; Management Audits , Financial Outsourcing , Tax Consultancy , Financial Consultancy & Fund Management , Feasibility Studies , Review of Internal Control Systems .
•	Employing and managing one Manager (ACA) and  15 trainees who were ACA students.
•	Development of the client base and marketing the firm which was mainly dependent on my relationship building, selling skills and providing a satisfactory service to the clients.  
•	Work involved signing off accounts, developing audit programs, assessment of new clients, writing of management reports for companies, meetings with clients, developing programs for accounts outsourcing clients, reviewing accounts, proposing improvements in accounting methods, system studies, reviewing audit files at interim and final stages, signing training record books of trainees, allocating proper training specified by The Institute of Chartered Accountants, Income tax computations, liaising with Inland Revenue for clients with tax problems, presentations for clients and organizations such as Rotary Clubs. 

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS;
 Recognised as a training organization in ACA – Sri Lanka , University of Sri Jayawardanapura , AAT – Sri Lanka.
Client base achieved was 15 private limited companies &amp; 03 non profit organizations.
Clients belonged to manufacturing, retail / whole sale trading, importing, services, hotels, financial advisory, engineering, and non profit and were nationally recognized high quality customers.

Manori Abeysundara & Co.,

Managing Partner

Worked with a team of Professional Management &amp; Accountancy consultants.
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS;
 Implemented computerized financial systems in start up companies after competitive evaluation of the systems in the market . Also optimized the staff numbers in the accounts divisions with considerable savings.

Freelance

Financial Consultant

RESPONSIBILITIES:
•	Preparation of monthly/annual accounts, and quarterly accounts for the Stock Exchange, annual budget.
•	 Fund Management. 
•	Annual Report Preparation.
•	 Managing finance department of over seven employees, performance management and training

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS:
 Introduced (prize-winning) professional annual reports. Involved in number of projects including a hydro – electric project &amp; treated rubber wood project which became a successful Company . Introduced a computerized gratuity system , improving time saving &amp; accuracy .

Horana Plantations Limited

Financial Accountant

(3 yrs study leave for university studies)

RESPONSIBILITIES:
•	Auditor in charge for several companies in manufacturing , banking , commodity trading , plantation , service &amp; non-profit organization categories.
•	Managing groups of auditors as the audit senior
System Study   -  Carried out reviews of internal control systems of several companies , including a leading multi-national &amp; a quoted public company .
•	Management Accounting – Preparation of management reports on weaknesses of accounting systems and made recommendations for improvements needed. Carried out reviews of costing, ratio analysis and interpreting financial statements and review of budgets &amp; forecasts.
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS:
  Member of a select three person team chosen to represent PwC , following the amalgamation with another firm . Selection was on basis of work excellence, interpersonal skills &amp; natural ability to mix with people at all levels.

Manori Wickremasinghe